10 Tips for Treating a Nasty Sunburn

Take a Pain Reliever

For sunburns that you can treat on your own, over-the-counter painkillers can take the edge off. If the burn's not so bad – mainly your skin just feels a little tender – Friedman suggests popping an ibuprofen (Advil), which acts as an anti-inflammatory to reduce swelling and ease pain. If you also have a headache or mild chills, go with acetaminophen (Tylenol), he says.